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NEVERENDING ♾️ The NEVERENDING Political Discussion Thread

I would need to see some serious polling data showing I was well ahead of Trump before I would agree to it.

I do wonder how accurate any of the replacement ticket polls are going to be, though. You have part of the voters who are going to lean into keeping the current strategy, and therefore rank any replacement lower thereby skewing the results. I think if there was a well done campaign, that included both a surprise element against Trump, a youthful and energetic lead that can support the majority of people who are concerned about having any octogenarian in the whitehouse, and someone with a far less polarizing history, the outcome could be different. I agree that the analysis by paralysis is going to be the weak spot. I also think, similar to how the MAGA element fractured the GOP last time, the far left is going to hurt the DNC.
 
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Of late, I've occasioned to listen to a variety of podcasts that have branded themselves as serious considerations of current events as U.S. governmental conspiracies. It's been a wild ride, mentally. I am up now finally gasping for some much-needed air. I have done this because the teenager at home shares with me stories of what he sees on social media. I need to know what's "in the air" so I can help the child think straight about current events. (Though I worry at times that he is punking me, but in my heart of hearts, I do think he trusts me, which is why, I suppose, he comes to me to fact check the social media din of doom and gloom from his feeds.)

On one podcast, the host claims on multiple occasions to not being political. But time and time again, there are negative mentions of academics and corporate bigwigs, big putdowns for the soy boys, but then humorous asides about the secret knowledge that Karens have and the power they wield in society. It may not be overtly political, but the commentary is certainly classist, which in turn is ultimately political by my way of thinking.

I learned about gunts and fupas. Wow. Seems like I should have known what those are, I feel old and dumb.

Also, did you know that the government is just waiting for the correct moment to fake an alien invasion so as to coerce people to conform to the wishes of the deep state? Yikes!

Constant mentions of Alex. Remember when Alex interviewed that guy, and remember when Alex predicted this or that? It's just "Alex." I am guessing that would be Alex Jones? The cranks can't get enough of Alex's prophecies, I suppose. Sick.

Back in my day, we had to worry only about John Stossel's tame libertarian discourse that was on ABC's 20/20. Now it's a cottage industry and it's everywhere. (Okay, I lie. I also worried about tele-religion's rapture scaremongering of the imminent end times.)
 
I watched LBJ's withdrawal speech right after Tet blew the cover off the Vietnam official story. The Democrats still refused to end that war which became Nixon's to lose.
Now that we have youth all on our side we can hammer away at Trump the codger.
If he falls physically then Ms K should easily defeat conman Vance.
 
How long until Republican SofS's come out and state that Biden has to stay on the ballot?
It will be quick. The only real argument against the D's was Biden and his inability to do the job (even though the economy, foreign policy, etc. were actually fairly good). They have to have SOMETHING to attack.

I have been clear that I am not a fan of Kamala Harris, but if she picks Roy Cooper or Josh Shapiro it will be a MUCH stronger D ballot. Trump's pick of Vance doesn't do anything for him or his ability to get votes. It just got him a yes man. A Harris/Cooper ticket is pretty strong in terms of actual bone fides.

Harris isn't as unlikeable as Clinton was, so Trump's personality and penchant for quickly attacking someone's looks or other physical features, will not be as easy with Harris. He potentially will say the racist or sexist thing out loud - and it will further distance the suburban women from voting for him.

If this does anything to get more people out to vote it will be a good thing for the D's, no matter who the candidates are. The fundraising on this will be huge though. Once everyone gets behind Harris, it will be a HUGE influx of cash to the D's.

With all that said - Pete/Witmer should be the D ticket in 2028, not Harris/Cooper. So who knows how that plays into it.
 
Rs already started going after this as something illegal, but ultimately the official formal nomination has not been made for the Ds. tRump is already sending out word salad nonsense on his own media platform.

Harris/Cooper or Harris/Shapiro are both good options, but I do see the Ds need more help in PA than NC but only by a little bit.

Ds have already unearthed a 2016 Harris advert taking the line of 'the prosecutor vs. the felon' & Harris brought in over $50m yesterday.

Put your seatbelts on folks.
 
I happily voted for Harris in the 2020 primary and I'll happily support her this time around too.

As for Rs trying to block getting her on the ballot, I don't think they have much standing. The nominating process is almost entirely controlled by the parties so as long as they decide before the cut-off dates for printing, they basically have no standing to contest it. Biden had not yet been nominated so he's not technically the candidate so there's nothing to protest there. And IIRC, the DNC bylaws require that the delegates vote for who won their state if they can do so in good conscious. If they cannot do that, they can vote how they see fit (the GOP is much more strict about who their delegates can vote for at the primary). Biden having officially dropped out opens it up for the delegates to vote basically however they would like so now I'm sure there is a lot of action going on in the background to get the party heads and delegates to come together behind Harris so that they don't have a messy convention.

To me this brings up a couple other topics...

Biden is now officially in lame duck territory. Will he start pushing for some more popular, but totally-out-there-and-not-likely-to-get-passed, big-swing legislation? Probably not because he likely doesn't want to give too much red meat to the Rs and possibly hurt Harris in the process but you never know. Maybe now's the time to try to pack the Supreme Court? I can dream, right?

Also, I like to think that this could be a huge shift in politics in general. If Harris is successful and wins in November will she be the first Gen X president (is somebody who is currently 59 Gen X? She definitely doesn't seem like a Boomer to me. This reminds me of some workplace dynamics where aging Boomers absolutely refuse to retire so we've got a big cohort of Gen X folks who are stuck in middle management, especially in the professional fields and government, that just cannot rise to those highest levels in the workplace. Beyond the question of age, what will this do for the electoral system and primary system in general? I dunno what that change may be but I could see people of whatever political persuasion being so turned off by the nominating process this cycle that this becomes a catalyst for some big change next time around. ¯\(ツ)
 
Just remember, the last 2 republican presidents have been elected by the Electoral College and not the popular vote.
 
How long until Republican SofS's come out and state that Biden has to stay on the ballot?

They decided to say that since Biden does not feel equipped to run for four more years, he's not equipped to do anything anymore. While having Harris as #47 would be funny for all those that bougt MAGA 45-47 hats, I also feel like this is to limit the potential terms Harris would be able to do.
 
They decided to say that since Biden does not feel equipped to run for four more years, he's not equipped to do anything anymore. While having Harris as #47 would be funny for all those that bougt MAGA 45-47 hats, I also feel like this is to limit the potential terms Harris would be able to do.

Even if Biden were to not finish his term and Harris stepped in from now until next January, she could still serve two full terms of her own.
 
I have to admit that I know very little of Harris from a political perspective. For the past 4+ years, she has just reaffirmed Biden's policies and positions.

The only thing that I know 100% right now is that I am not voting for Trump.

Having said that, the local TV news station went "In Depth" on the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 and there have been some comments made in the public that apparently are actually part of the document.

 
It may be a new normal while living in such turbulent and politically divisive times; seems like incumbency now isn't the same advantage that it was before for either party, if it even is an advantage at all.
 
The day Biden called it quits I saw a giant truck with the FJB flags and stickers. I started laughing. All that money spent F Biden stuff and he's gone. How long does the idiot keep flying the F Biden merch?
 
The day Biden called it quits I saw a giant truck with the FJB flags and stickers. I started laughing. All that money spent F Biden stuff and he's gone. How long does the idiot keep flying the F Biden merch?

Mrs. P & I were talking about that last night. Guess we don't have to see that anymore or Let's Go Brandon crap.

It's a cult.
 
And the conspiracies have started...

A coworker told me that over the weekend Biden was in Vegas and the Secret Service called for local law enforcement to clear a path between the hotel and the hospital for a medical emergency, but then cancelled it, and then called for Air Force One to prepare to depart. He then pointed out that no one has actually seen Biden since then and thinks that the 25th Amendment will used in the next few days.

I personally don't buy the whole Vegas story, but I do wonder if Biden might just hand everything to Harris to close out the term knowing that nothing of substance will happen between now and the election, and it would give her more credibility on election day if she is already the sitting President.
 
And the conspiracies have started...

A coworker told me that over the weekend Biden was in Vegas and the Secret Service called for local law enforcement to clear a path between the hotel and the hospital for a medical emergency, but then cancelled it, and then called for Air Force One to prepare to depart. He then pointed out that no one has actually seen Biden since then and thinks that the 25th Amendment will used in the next few days.

I personally don't buy the whole Vegas story, but I do wonder if Biden might just hand everything to Harris to close out the term knowing that nothing of substance will happen between now and the election, and it would give her more credibility on election day if she is already the sitting President.
That makes the most sense for the Dems. May wait until after the convention provided Harris secures the nomination. Would not look good if she is then made Pres but then does not get the nomination. Two feathers in the cap is better than one.
 
close out the term knowing that nothing of substance will happen between now and the election, and it would give her more credibility on election day if she is already the sitting President.
I think that's a big assumption. A LOT can happen between now and the election. Never forget we have a lot of enemies in the world who love nothing better than a divided America. One that is divided and unsure of who is currently running the place can be a recipe for all sorts of things.
 
I has a confusion - The internets are posting claims that it wasn't a bullet that grazed Trump's ear, but rather a piece of shattered plexiglas from the teleprompter. Does anyone know if this is true? Has there been an official report released yet that addresses this particular detail? After the attempt on his life, I took to avoiding media reports about the incident because it felt like that soon everyone online would suddenly become ballistics experts or secret service management experts.
 
I has a confusion - The internets are posting claims that it wasn't a bullet that grazed Trump's ear, but rather a piece of shattered plexiglas from the teleprompter. Does anyone know if this is true? Has there been an official report released yet that addresses this particular detail? After the attempt on his life, I took to avoiding media reports about the incident because it felt like that soon everyone online would suddenly become ballistics experts or secret service management experts.
 

I has another confusion. FBI main man Wray now say they not sure Trump was hit by bullet. What going on?! This is why I avoid all the instant reactions and hot takes right after major news events, everyone go online and act like they are Expert Du Jour.

 
I happily voted for Harris in the 2020 primary and I'll happily support her this time around too.

As for Rs trying to block getting her on the ballot, I don't think they have much standing. The nominating process is almost entirely controlled by the parties so as long as they decide before the cut-off dates for printing, they basically have no standing to contest it. Biden had not yet been nominated so he's not technically the candidate so there's nothing to protest there. And IIRC, the DNC bylaws require that the delegates vote for who won their state if they can do so in good conscious. If they cannot do that, they can vote how they see fit (the GOP is much more strict about who their delegates can vote for at the primary). Biden having officially dropped out opens it up for the delegates to vote basically however they would like so now I'm sure there is a lot of action going on in the background to get the party heads and delegates to come together behind Harris so that they don't have a messy convention.

To me this brings up a couple other topics...

Biden is now officially in lame duck territory. Will he start pushing for some more popular, but totally-out-there-and-not-likely-to-get-passed, big-swing legislation? Probably not because he likely doesn't want to give too much red meat to the Rs and possibly hurt Harris in the process but you never know. Maybe now's the time to try to pack the Supreme Court? I can dream, right?

Also, I like to think that this could be a huge shift in politics in general. If Harris is successful and wins in November will she be the first Gen X president (is somebody who is currently 59 Gen X? She definitely doesn't seem like a Boomer to me. This reminds me of some workplace dynamics where aging Boomers absolutely refuse to retire so we've got a big cohort of Gen X folks who are stuck in middle management, especially in the professional fields and government, that just cannot rise to those highest levels in the workplace. Beyond the question of age, what will this do for the electoral system and primary system in general? I dunno what that change may be but I could see people of whatever political persuasion being so turned off by the nominating process this cycle that this becomes a catalyst for some big change next time around. ¯\(ツ)
She's a late boomer. Sometimes referred to as Generation Jones.
 
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